The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-21
CROCKER ON THE STAND.
He Testfies in Very Pert Style as to the Af-
fairs of the Southern Pacific Railway.

New YORK, Sept 2O.-The commission APP
pointed to inquire into Pacific railroad matters
met In this city this morning. Gov. Il. e. Pat
tison presided and E. Eilery Anderson and
David T. Littler. the other members. were pres
ent There were also present ex-Judge Dillon,
counsel for the conmissiop; A. A Cohen, coun-
sci for the Central & Southern Pacific railroad
Mr.. Croker WAS the first witness called. The
witness went into detailed account of a tech
nical character to the manner ir which the
road was built The books kept consisted of
ordinary cash-books, blotters and ledgers. He
had no idea of where these books now, and
did not think it mattered much to anybody,
anyhow, ard if any person did ask to see them
he would tell him it was none of his business.
Mr.. Anderson-Well will take the liberty of
asking you what became of the booksa
The witness-NIy dear sir, 1 have more
idea where they than the man in the moon.
l guess haven't seen Them since 1862
On cross-examnation the witness admitted
that the majority of the railway stock at that
early date really handed over to the Contract
and Finance Company. The company was
heavily in debt. and everything depended on
making the road a It did pay in the
end, but before it finished big cry against
the company was made. The company did not
pay to $1,000 share to quiet
road were compromised. but this was done
in order to keep up the value of the stock of the
Southern Pacific road, which was just then be-
ing put the market by the fnancers
who had foated the Central Pacific. The genial
witness talked glibly about the whole matter;
how he played with millions of his money,
but generally managed to come out ahead in all
his business ventures. In reply to question as
to where the books of the Contract and Finance
Company were, Mr.. Croker said: "Really l
don't know where they I tried to find them
unable
to discover their whereabouts. / know l had
$4,000, 900 of stock when went to Europe but
l don't know what anyone else may have been
worth"
well, we want to know how much you made
on that Southern Pacific contract" remarked
II don't exactly know the precise figure, but
| made all could. you may bet your bottom
dollar on that"
with emphasis: II never voted for contract
while was director of the Southern Pacific
railway"
A discussion rose relative to the difference be-
tween Mr.. Crocker's statements AID the books
of the company. Mr.. Croker said: 81 wish to
say, right here and now, that with my physically
impaired memory don't think it fair to be
aiming me against the books of the company.
which and must be right 1 ashamed of
nothing have done. / have worked hard dur
ing the best DAYS OF my life, and glad that
have worked successfully. Every public enter
prise put my hand to turned out we'll for the
public in general and for me in particular"
nesslike manner, tell bow the money question at
issue could be settled with the government He
replied that an explicit answer would require
more consideration than he had given to the
subject. "But think /" he added, that a con-
ference between a committee from the board Of
directors and your commission would bring about
more speedy and satisfactory result than pro-
mscuous Investigation like this. know have
never misappropriated money, and believe that
none of my colleagues ever did"
When the Cotton letters, which created
much discussion at the San Francisco session,
were introduced Mr.. Croker took them, scanned
them and then SAID: II don't remember them,
but they sound very much like me-"
When MIR. Anderson had got through, Mr..
Littler asked what WAS the ability of the
pany to pay its debt to the government today,
and was answered: None whatever" Mr..
Croker said the company intended to pay
some day, but to do it at present would ruin
the property. - would suggest" remarked Mr.
Croker, that the government to which money
is just now object, might give the road, say
one hundred or oge hundred and fifty years in
which TO pay its debt" Later, he said that if
the government bad given the Central Pacific
the contracts promised. the company would
have nearly paid its debt by this time Poll
tics, insisted the witness. ARE at the root of
all this trouble. When the road is out of poll
tics it will prosper"
In reply to another question. the witness said
that there was never penny in stock, bonds
money. offered to any legislator secure cor
rupt influence.
Mr.. Cohen then began to cross-examine the
witness and ELECTED the statements that the road
was completed seven years ahead OF contract
time, at an expense of millions of dollars; that
tine government had not kept the promises made
to the company in the of 1852, but had given
its contracts to other parties. It was alleged
that the government had saved $139, 600,-
900 by the road yet would not give it enough
patronage to enable it to pay its debt which
could easily have been done. The company had
faithfully fulfilled all its contracts, aud he (Mr,
Crocker) had asked the board of directors to
introduce a bill in Congress. claiming payment
in compensation for unfulflled contracts made
to the COMPANY, but fulfilled.
This concluded the witnesses testimony. and
the commission adjourned until tomorrow.